Soccer ties in last home game

By Kristen Davis
Arizona Daily Wildcat
November 4, 1996

Gregory Harris
Arizona Daily Wildcat

Freshman Megan Canaday (24) fights to control the ball against a Cal State-Fullerton defender in the Wildcats' last home game of the season, a 2-2 tie yesterday at Wildcat Soccer Field. Canaday scored the first goal in the second half.

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Eleven players raced onto Wildcat Soccer Field determined to end their final home game on a winning note, but walked off with their goal unfulfilled and their dreams of redeeming the unsuccessful season shattered.

"Like the seniors, I would've liked to have had a much better year," UA head coach Lisa Fraser said after the Wildcats and Cal State-Fullerton tied 2-2 yesterday. "But this was a good ending for a home game. We gave the crowd a good game."

It was the first overtime game of the season for Arizona (5-12-1 overall, 0-7 in the Pacific 10 Conference). The Wildcats suffered their seventh consecutive Pac-10 loss Friday night, falling to Washington State 3-0.

Fullerton (13-4-2) scored its two goals in the first half, the first by Dolores Browning with just under 14 minutes before the half expired. Shawna Panter scored the Titans' final goal a minute later.

Fraser said she was upset and let the team know how she felt during halftime, with Arizona down 2-0.

UA freshman forward Megan Canaday scored 16 minutes into the second half. Canaday sped up the right side of the field and blasted a shot that hit the top crossbar and bounced into the goal.

"When you're two down, you're bummed out, but the score picked everybody up," Canaday said.

UA senior forward Christine Keeley evened the score with just under 14 minutes remaining in the game. Canaday raced up the left side of the field and passed the ball to Keeley, who blasted the ball to the right past Titan senior goalkeeper Suzy Strazzulla.

The Wildcats continued to have possession of the ball for the remainder of the game and set up a few scoring opportunities, which were all blocked by Strazzulla, leading to overtime.

In overtime, neither team had many chances to take the lead, and each attempt came up empty.

Keeley broke free and raced up the field, facing Strazzulla in a one-on-one situation with 20 seconds remaining in the first overtime period. Keeley was unable to convert, however, firing a shot that was about a foot right of the goal post.

"This game was probably the best game all season because we were down and we fought back," Canaday said. "In the overtime everyone gave it their all and the bench was really supportive."


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